Thursday, April 28, 2011

The fellowship will be hosted by the Turbomachinery and Propulsion Systems Division at NASA Glenn Research Center in the summer of 2011.

During her tenure, Milanovic will conduct an investigation of jets in cross-flow. The motivation for the study stems from the current emphasis on active flow control strategies, particularly in turbomachinery and aeronautical applications, and the need to better understand, control and predict the vortex dynamics.

The work is expected to provide graduate-level projects for students interested in computational simulation studies.
SOURCE: http://www.hartford.edu/daily/Articles.asp?MainID=10482&Category=4

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

This Wednesday, April 27, the University of Hartford Architecture Lecture Series will present a lecture by three recent graduates – Michelle Harrigan, Brenda Eaton, and Carolina Calle.

The lecture will start at 4:44 p.m. in Wilde Auditorium, and is free and open to the public.

Harrigan, Eaton and Calle together shared the Tai Soo Kim Travel Fellowship, and will present a lecture on their travels and their discoveries. The Tai Soo Kim Travel Fellowship is awarded annually to a matriculating graduate student, or students, in recognition of their achievement, for the purpose of pursuing study abroad.

The Fellowship was established by area architect Tai Soo Kim, FAIA, of Tai Soo Kim Partners, to encourage the independent study of architecture by graduating master's students. Students may travel anywhere they wish, but their program of study must include a service component. Mr. Kim will be in attendance at Wednesday's lecture.

The Architecture Lecture Series is made possible through the JCJ Architecture Endowment of the University of Hartford Department of Architecture. Please join us!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A new course entitled "Patents and Copyright Protection" – ES 497ST (CRN 27696) has been approved and is being offered to all juniors, seniors, and graduate students in the Fall of 2011. The course will be held on Monday nights from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. in UT 309.

The course is being taught by John Mutchler, a professional engineer and patent attorney who has previously taught classes at the University of Hartford. See Mutchler's bio.

Attorney Mutchler says he "likes to introduce some humor into his class" and for example, refers to a patent granted in 1971 for a "Baby Patting Machine" (see the illustration above).

The course includes an overview of intellectual property, namely property developed from original creative thought. The course will illustrate examples of intellectual property in the form of patents, copyrights and trademarks related to many academic programs offered at the University of Hartford, including those of the College of Arts and Sciences; Barney School of Business; College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions; College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture; the Hartford Art School; and The Hartt School.

The course will describe what is and is not protectable under applicable patent, copyright or trademark practice. Knowledge of the extent of such protection is essential to almost any business or profession. For example:

• Patentable subject matter not only includes machines and apparatuses but also covers compositions of matter, non-naturally occurring genetic materials, ornamental designs, business methods and some plants.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

During the summer of 2011 I will be working at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City Florida.I have been awarded an Office of Naval Research Faculty Summer Fellowship.This base is responsible for research, development, test and evaluation for navy diving systems.During the summer I will be working on projects related to navy diving and life support systems.I will be away from May 13- July 31.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Notes from the Field: A Taste of India

By Jessica Barringer

Jessica is a junior studying Civil Engineering at the University of Hartford. This spring she is spending a semester in Pune, India focusing her studies on development, environment and public health. This is Jessica’s third time participating in a study abroad program through UHart!

I’ve been in India for a little over a month now, which is hard to believe. In such a short amount of time, my senses have been exposed to so many things - new sights, sounds, tastes, textures. While on one hand it’s been overwhelming, it has been extremely satisfying to learn to operate a normal day to day life in an alternative, quite foreign culture.

When I arrived, small tasks like crossing the street took so much energy. Elementary functions we learned as children were suddenly drastically different as we learned to take bucket showers and eat entire meals with only our right hand. Walking to school every morning was a constant battle with traffic; horns honking every moment – never knowing who had the right of way, which cars would stop for me and what vehicles expected me to wait.

However, as days turned into weeks, and now a month, my body and mind adjusted; it’s as simple as that. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, I am now free to enjoy the beautiful city around me. Whether it’s attending concerts, petting an elephant passing by, riding in a rickshaw, or just soaking in the city as I walk to class, I love being here and am grateful for the opportunity to learn so much about another part of the world.

A few of my favorite things:

Walking down the street and buying a fresh guava (or six) for lunch.

Wearing flip flops every day being normal.

Modesty everywhere I look.

Looking out the window at the program center and seeing a papaya tree just chillin'

Doing my homework in the sunlight of the back patio of the program center.

Paying $1 for a 20 minute rickshaw (taxi) ride to/from school every day.

Noticing the number of stares decrease as people get used to my/our presence in the area.

Crossing the street by putting my hand out to make the cars stop.

Eating a large lunch (including a drink/milkshake) for 50 rupees (about $1).

Walking to school every morning in late autumn morning temperatures.

Knowing the city well enough to be able to tell the rickshaw drivers where to turn (so they can’t rip me off!)!

Waking up every morning and realizing how lucky I am to be living half way across the world.

Here are a few other interesting tidbits from Jessica's experience in Pune, India:

Jessica received VIP tickets to see the world renowned sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Kha. (The sarod is a stringed musical instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music). See his music here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KXYHPXopMI

As a part of her program, Jessica will be carrying out an internship with a company called Thermax. For her internship, Jessica will document the current water usage in urban Pune. She will be looking at the amount of water that can be recycled from current grey, black, and waste water and the costs involved in doing so. She will also help Thermax compile a document with all of the regulations in place for recycling water in Pune. As a civil engineering major with an interest in environmental studies, Jessica is ‘beyond excited’ about this opportunity to intern with Thermax! To learn more about the Thermax project, visit: http://www.thermaxindia.com/Water-and-Waste-Solutions.aspx

Johanna graduated in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from the University of Hartford. During her senior year at UHA, Johanna studied abroad in Panama. In fact, Johanna was a key player in organizing and launching a study abroad program for UHA undergraduate and graduate students in collaboration with the non-governmental organization Global Architecture Brigades (GAB). The group of 17 students spent 10 days in Panama during their winter term in January, 2010. They lived among the Ngobe-Bugle indigenous group and worked with local community members to collaboratively design a sustainable, eco-friendly hostel for surf tourists.

Below, Johanna responds to our questions about her activities after graduation and current efforts to help rebuild communities in New Orleans.

Current location:
New Orleans, Louisiana

Current employer:
St. Bernard Project through AmeriCorps.

(AmeriCorps is a U.S. federal government program that is a division of the Corporation for National & Community Service. More than 85,000 individuals join AmeriCorps annually. The work done by AmeriCorps aims to meet critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment).

What made you decide to apply for this position?
I wanted to get construction experience and do something I thought was interesting.

Tell us a little about your work for AmeriCorps:
I work with about 50 other AmeriCorps volunteers who all have different jobs with the St. Bernard Project. I am serving a 10-month term which started in October of 2010 and will end in August, 2011. I am a Site Supervisor and am in charge of leading volunteers in the reconstruction of homes hit by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.

What is a typical day like for you?
I start work at 8:00 am. Volunteers show up on site by 8:30 am. I teach them how to do the tasks they need to do in order to rebuild a house for the homeowners who have applied for assistance through the St. Bernard Project. The stages that I am responsible for teaching the volunteers are: insulation, drywall, spackling, painting, flooring, doors, door trim, windows and floors. Volunteers serve for varying periods of time, from a half day to a few months. Most groups are here for a week and work Monday through Friday. We are also open on Saturdays, but I do not work on Saturdays every week.

What has been the best part of your experience so far?
Getting to know the homeowners I am helping and seeing their faces when their homes are finally finished. All of the people we are helping have been waiting for over 5 years to move home after the devastating experience of Hurricane Katrina.

Any other highlights you would like to mention?
The St. Bernard Project has rebuilt (as of today) 356 homes in the New Orleans area. There is still quite a bit of rebuilding left to be done after Hurricane Katrina. Even with all the non-profits helping Katrina survivors as they are now, it will take 16 more years to totally rebuild the homes that Katrina destroyed in 2005.

Our busiest time for volunteers is the spring (when spring break is happening all over the country). It is great to meet students from all the different high schools and colleges. I work with between 2 and 17 volunteers on a site at a time (and sometimes even more if I have another Site Supervisor helping me).

What have you learned as a result of your AmeriCorps experience? What skills are you enhancing in New Orleans?
I am learning great leadership and management skills. I am required to keep track of the materials I need for the house and the schedule for which it will be completed. Also, I am learning how to build a house by doing it myself-- which is the best way for me to learn!

Tell us about the community where you are living:
I am currently living in Treme, which is a neighborhood well known for its musicians and culture. New Orleans is almost like a different country. The weather is tropical, the food is spicy, flavorful seafood and the music is great brass jazz. I also love that most things in the city are relatively inexpensive or free. There are always events happening in parks or museums which include free music. There are people who live here from all over the world, so it’s a great place to meet new people!

What is one of your favorite local dishes? How is it prepared?
It is crawfish season right now, which is great! We have huge crawfish boils which are new to me. Also, the gator [alligator] sausage down here is really good.

You traveled abroad and carried out service work in Panama while studying at the University of Hartford. How did the Panama trip help you develop professionally?

I learned how to plan trips and work with others to accomplish a single project. Collaboration is a really productive way to get big projects done, like going to Panama and designing an eco-hostel for a community. I also learned a little bit about networking. Traveling to Panama cost quite a bit of money, so I tried to get as much help from [potential donors for the project] as I could. Fundraising for the trip was a challenge that I learned a lot from.

What would you want to say to UHA students who are thinking about going abroad or doing service work?
DO IT! You won't regret it.

Any thoughts about what your next step will be?
I want to get more construction experience and I also want to keep traveling, so I was thinking of getting another AmeriCorps position—that way I can continue with the same type of work that I am doing now.

Any additional thoughts?
COME DOWN TO VOLUNTEER FOR SPRING BREAK or for summer vacation! There are plenty of churches and places that house volunteers for little or no cost, and it is easy to sign up. Visit the project website at: www.stbernardproject.org

To learn more about study abroad or service opportunities, you contact Susan Carey in the Study Abroad Office: sucarey@hartford.edu

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Tom Eppes, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, CETA; Ivana Milanovic, associate professor of mechanical engineering, CETA; and Ingrid Russell, professor of Computer Science, A&S, presented a paper at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) EDUCON 2011 conference, which took place in Amman, Jordan, from April 4-6.

The EDUCON 2011 conference provides an interdisciplinary forum for academic, research, and industrial collaboration by presenting the newest research results and practical showcases on teaching methods, practical experiences, and research towards the future of global engineering education, attracting participants from all over the world.

The paper, "Multiphysics Modeling with High Priority Research Applications," describes an engineering course that covers the methods and techniques of multiphysics modeling. Students become active participants in analysis and discovery by being challenged to solve a sequence of problems related to high priority technology areas. Projects range from power systems and thermal control of habitats to autonomous flight systems and harsh environment electronics. Working in a cooperative learning environment, teams encounter a series of assignments that build on existing skills while gradually expanding their knowledge and expertise in disciplines outside of their own.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Women's Education and Leadership Fund (WELFund) is proud to announce the selection of the Dorothy Goodwin Summer Scholars for 2011. Each student will work one-on-one with a University of Hartford faculty member on an original scholarly or creative summer research project.

– Jenna Daly will work with Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ivana Milanovic (CETA) in the study of computational fluid dynamics. Daly is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering with an acoustics concentration.

– Courtney Mason will partner with Associate Professor of Illustration Dennis Nolan (Hartford Art School) to study computer animation with an end goal of producing a three-dimensional short animated film. Mason is a junior studying illustration with a dual minor in sculpture and art history.

– Sarah Pan will work with Jacob Harney, associate professor of biology, chair of the department and director of the neuroscience program (A&S), to study the effects of a high-DHA and high antioxidant diet in rodents on oxidative stress, neural growth, and cognitive function. Pan is a sophomore with a double major in biology and piano performance.

– Kim Rivera will partner with Professor of Chemistry Laura Pence (A&S). She will study green chemistry to address waste and associated chemical hazards that are byproducts of research. Rivera is a junior studying chemistry/biology.

The late Dorothy Goodwin, a popular state legislator who was known for her deep commitment to education, was a life regent of the University of Hartford, a longtime trustee of Hartford College for Women, and a life member of the Mortensen Library Board of Visitors. Goodwin inspired women to live beyond expectations and to realize their full potential. In her honor, WELFund created the Dorothy Goodwin Summer Scholars Program in 2010. This highly competitive program provides an unparalleled experience each summer to a select group of female students.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

One group from the Biomedical Engineering Senior Design class competed in the Senior Design Competition at the Northeast Bioengineering Conference at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY on Friday, April 1st. The students, Kayla Cloutier, Nicholas Milton, Filip Miletic, and Chelsea Vendetti (not shown) presented their senior design project alongside 57 teams from 17 different colleges in the northeast, and were judged by industry representatives. Their project, ‘Articulation: A New Innovation to Clip Appliers’ is in cooperation with Covidien. The purpose of the student’s project is to design the distal end of Covidien’s minimally invasive surgery tool, the Articulating Clip Applier.

He Said He Was Psychic
Russell Butkiewicz ’07 and Marissa Torento ’05 first met in the architecture
studio in the spring of 2004—back when the architecture program
was still in East Hall. They were both audio engineering technology
majors. Russell introduced himself to her by saying that he was psychic
and already knew her name, which he told her. Surprised at first, Marissa
soon figured out the source of his information.
“I had apparently forgotten I was wearing my Red Key sweatshirt that day, with my name
on the sleeve,” explains Marissa.
They started dating in 2005. At the reception the night before her graduation that May, it
was President Walter Harrison who told her father that she and Russell were dating. Her father
was surprised—not to hear that they were a couple but to realize that they knew the president of
the University on a person level.
And how did the president know?
“I have no idea!” says Marissa. “I would assume he’d seen us together at a few Hillel events—
we were both active in campus organizations. . . . I was as surprised as my dad that he knew!”
Russell and Marissa are legacy graduates of the University—three previous family members
attended UofH: Russell’s dad, Henry Butkiewicz ’77 (BS, College of Engineering); Marissa’s
cousin, Dean Negrelli ’87 (BS, College of Engineering); and Russell’s cousin, Nick Fontaine ’01
(BS, ENHP).
“We are currently living in Tonawanda, N.Y., just north of
Buffalo and the Great Lakes ‘snow band’,” says Marissa. “I work
as a junior architect and project administrator at E.I. Team
Architects and Engineers in Buffalo. Russell is the architectural
consultant for the Early Childhood Research Center at the
University at Buffalo and also works at Advanced Auto

Check it out at:http://www.hartford.edu/observer/files/pdf/additional_hartford_sweethearts.pdf

Faculty and staff who are celebrating special anniversaries with the University were honored last month for their years of service and dedication.

The annual Recognition Day lunch at the 1877 Club paid tribute to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service to the University of Hartford.20 Years of Service:
Anita Marchant15 Years of Service:
Hisham Alnajjar
Howard Canistraro
Janice Girouard10 Years of Service:
Ivana Milanovic
Peter Norwood5 Years of Service:
Louis Manzione